I hate to hear on the news that Fiji Australia and New Zealand are in a bout of 'schoolyard bullying'. Who is going to benefit from all this - the egos of the politicians. Who is going to suffer from all of this - the people of Fiji.



Australians and New Zealands are quite blissfully unaware of what it is like when the travel advisories go up. Tourists get nervous - not all, but enough - the resorts start to suffer reduced numbers, the locals have reduced hours, the flow on effects to education, health, nutrition is enormous.



Of course the Big Fella (Bainimarama) is standing big. He is the little guy in these transactions - therefore Australia and New Zealand can afford the man some opportunity to save face. They should have kept his High Commissioner in place - if only, so that Fiji can stay within the fold. Retaliation gets nobody anywhere. The Dalai Lama says "How can we have world peace, unless we have inner peace".

We all need to take a deep breath and remember what is really going to happen here.

As a child I remember always being keen to be a 'helper'. My favourite activity was Girl Guide Bob-a-Job week. I had a small group of friends in primary school who sought out good deeds with our near neighbours. I must have been a horribly bossy child - but I remember to this day that I even chose a motto for myself "If there is any good deed I can do, let me do it now - as I may not pass this way again" - this, of course, was a simple version of the quote below:I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
William Penn

My Buddhist views now tell me that I will certainly pass through life again, but without any guarantee that it will be this blessed path in this human incarnation. Which just means that I have more reasons to do what I can now and not defer or neglect any longer.


Friends who have known me for a long while know that I have always given of my time - whether it be locally to schools, or clubs, or respite groups- or more recently during my travels. I have become comfortable with the notion of giving as I see the need in an immediate fashion. This is not always easy and I am prone to get it wrong on occasion - but I tell myself that I give with my hand on my heart and the best of intentions. My friend, and mentor, Marc Gold of 100Friends has been a great encouragement in this journey. He has always encouraged me to document, document, document all encounters - otherwise people have no idea what I am doing in their name. I, however, find it hard work to talk about myself and my activities. I find it even harder to ask for money to continue the work.


This new blog is my attempt to share, with those who may be interested, my regular forays into the world of micro-philanthropy. I will attempt to link some of my posts over recent years from Blognow - unsuccessful, so far - but I will continue to try.